VX One Midwinter Championship - Reich wins Tampa tie-breaker

The VX One Midwinter Championship concluded with four competitors tied on points for the lead, and David Reich of Birmingham, Alabama winning the tie-breaker. Reich, John Potter, Brian Bennett and Donnie Brennan were all knotted at twelve points after six races, and hopes for completing a seventh race were dashed when the breeze shut off. Winds started around eight knots but quickly died to 2-3 knots, so the Race Committee shortened the course to finish race 6. Timothy Pitts grabbed the top spot in that contest, with Bennett and Brennan behind him.

Reich, also the VX One Class President, raced with local Robby Brown, whom Reich called, 'a plethora of knowledge.' Reich praised the exciting tight racing of the 10-boat fleet, saying, 'It really could have gone to anybody there in that last race, but we came out on the better end of the deal with the tie.' Hosted by the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa, Florida, the Championship is the first stand-alone Midwinters for the young VX One Class. 'This is a good place for the VX One Class,' Reich believed. 'My hope is for the Class to continue to come here on an annual basis.'

Conditions varied throughout the three-day event. Reich summarized, 'We had one good heavy day, a couple medium races and a few light races. It really mixes things up.' Brown is new to the VX One, but shared his admiration, 'I love the boat. I’ve sailed other sport boats but this is one of the most fun boats I’ve been on. It’s every bit as fast and manageable as advertised.'